Olivia's POV
I didn't sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Silas's smile soaked in blood. Riven's confession echoing in my ears. Kael's unreadable stare carved into the back of my mind.
The bond was pulling. All three of them. And it wasn't just physical—it was soul-deep. Like I'd been born just to unravel with them.
By dawn, I was dressed and downstairs, because hiding wasn't an option anymore.
"Morning, sunshine."
Lucy's chirpy voice made me pause at the bottom of the staircase.
She stood in the hallway, all pastels and practiced smiles, holding a tray like some perfect beta's daughter out of a storybook.
My stomach twisted.
"Morning," I said cautiously.
She looked exactly the same—golden hair in a braid, doe eyes, sweet perfume that made my skin crawl. People adored Lucy. But I remembered the subtle digs. The smiles that didn't quite meet her eyes when she spoke to me alone.
"I made you breakfast," she said, stepping forward. "Figured you could use it. Everyone's been talking…"
She trailed off, waiting for me to ask what they were saying. I didn't.
Instead, I stared her down. "Why?"
She blinked. "Why… what?"
"Why are you really here, Lucy?"
Her smile faltered. Only for a second. But I saw it. The crack in her porcelain facade.
"You looked like you needed a friend," she said smoothly. "And the triplets? Well, you know how they are. Intense."
Understatement of the century.
I took the tray from her, but didn't thank her. Something about her felt too polished, too rehearsed.
As I turned away, she called out sweetly, "You should be careful who you trust, Olivia. Alpha Kael plays a long game. And Silas… well, he always was a little off, wasn't he?"
I stopped mid-step, a chill curling down my spine.
How did she know about Silas?
Before I could ask, she was gone.
---
I found Kael in the strategy room, pouring over maps and reports like war was a puzzle only he could solve.
"You were right," I said.
He looked up slowly. "About?"
"Lucy."
His jaw clenched.
"She's playing innocent, but I think she's watching me."
"She's loyal to her father," he said flatly. "Which makes her dangerous."
"And yet you let her roam the packhouse?"
Kael stood, coming around the table. "Do you think I don't have eyes on her?"
He was close now—close enough that I could see the cracks in his armor. The subtle tension in his jaw, the tightness in his fists.
"You're changing," I whispered. "You're not as cold as you pretend to be."
He reached out and brushed his fingers against my cheek, just once.
"You're making it hard to stay that way."
The moment was cut short by the sound of a door slamming.
Riven stormed in, shirtless, chest heaving, a gash across his shoulder.
"Rogue ambush," he growled. "South border."
Kael didn't move. "Handled?"
"Obviously. But it's not just rogues anymore. Someone's organizing them."
Then his eyes landed on me.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
He scoffed. "She's not fine, she's stuck in a house with a psychopath, a control freak, and me."
Kael's glare could've frozen lava. "Don't speak for her."
Riven looked between us, something breaking behind his eyes.
"I told you how I feel," he said to me, voice rough. "And if you choose him—"
"I haven't chosen anyone," I snapped.
"That's the problem," he muttered, and stormed out again.
---
Later, I found Silas sitting on the balcony, legs dangling off the edge like gravity didn't apply to him.
"I saw Lucy in your room earlier," he said without turning.
"She wasn't in my room."
"Oh, darling." He glanced back, eyes gleaming. "She will be. People like her always find cracks to crawl through."
I sat beside him, ignoring the drop below.
"Do you trust anyone?"
He tilted his head. "No."
"Not even me?"
He smiled. "Especially not you. You make me feel things I don't understand. That's dangerous."
I should've pulled away when he reached for my hand.
Instead, I let him hold it.
And I didn't flinch when he leaned in, his breath brushing my ear as he whispered, "If they try to take you from me, I'll kill them both."
---
That night, I stood alone in the garden, the moonlight carving silver paths around my feet. The bond burned hotter with each of them, like a tug-of-war inside my chest.
Kael made me feel seen.
Riven made me feel wanted.
Silas made me feel… owned.
And I didn't know which scared me more.
But I knew one thing: something was coming.
And when it hit, this whole pack—this whole world—might not survive it.
Especially not me.